Senko Fishing Tricks! Beginner And Advanced!

Shallow weeds, heavy cover, clear water, or deep suspended fish, the senko is one of the most universal baits ever made! Learning how to adapt the senko (stick bait) to changing conditions will increase your catch rate tremendously. Today Tim is going in depth, showing us how to adapt a senko in different scenarios from open water suspended bass to flipping heavy cover. 

When someone says they're catching fish on a "senko" we all have a general assumption about what that means. But with all the ways this bait can be adapted, you might be surprised by what they were actually doing. Was he skipping docks? Was he flipping? Was he bottom hopping off main lake points? If you know which sizes, colors, and rigging to use, the senko can be used for virtually anything. 

Tim uses the senko for 3 main applications. He loves to skip docks with weightless baits, fish outside structure with a Neko rig, and flip heavy cover with a texas rig. He uses very specific hooks and colors for each of these methods. Below you'll find links to all the gear he discussed in the video. We've broken it down by size of senko and rigging method. We've included colors, hooks sizes, as well as rod and reel combos for each method. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 


Favorite Stick Baits... 

Best All Around- Yamamoto Senko: http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Bang For The Buck- Yum Dinger: http://bit.ly/2J8nMrF

Durability- Z Man Zinkerz: http://bit.ly/2ZVJANs

Made For Wacky- Big Bite Wacky Stick: http://bit.ly/2rrNT6g

Great Colors- Gambler Fat Ace: http://bit.ly/2aJq2AO


Wacky Rigging... 

Bait- Yamamoto 5" Senko: http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Open Water Colors: Baby Bass, Electric Shad, Natural Shad

Hook- Owner Sniper Finesse (Size 1): https://bit.ly/2zXirRH

O-Ring- Frenzy Wacky saddle: http://bit.ly/2xnYcJo


Neko Rigging... 

Bait- Yamamoto 5" Senko: http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Neko Colors: watermln cop org red lam, Green Pumpkin Purp copp, Green Pumpkin Blk Flk

Hook- Owner Sniper Finesse (Size 1): https://bit.ly/2zXirRH

O-Ring- G7 Protect Tubes (7MM): http://bit.ly/2PWEkUs

O-Ring Tool- G7 Pliers: http://bit.ly/2PRMNrG

Weight- Tungsten Nail 1/32 oz: http://bit.ly/2iGNSFW


Texas-Rigging For Heavy Cover... 

Bait- Yamamoto Senko: http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Colors: Black Blue, Green Pumpkin Blk Flk, Watermelon Red

5" Hook- Owner TwistLock Center Pin 2/0: http://bit.ly/2cYZ3rM

6" Hook- Owner Offset Shank Worm Hook 4/0: http://bit.ly/2D9Pmj0

7"Hook- Owner Jungle Wide Gap 5/0: http://bit.ly/2sBsR1Z


Last Year's Senko Video... 

Senko Fishing Tricks! - https://youtu.be/bTlj9cL53B8


Best Wacky Rigging/Neko Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis NRX+ 852S JWR: https://bit.ly/3y0Ss5m

Reel- Shimano Twin Power 2500 FD: https://bit.ly/3df3hX5

Line- Sunline 12 lb SX1 Braid: http://bit.ly/2tn8EzQ

Leader- Sunline Assassin 7 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm


Bang For The Buck Wacky rigging/Neko Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7' Medium: http://bit.ly/2osaj3q

Reel- Shimano Vanford 3000 (Available For Back Order): https://bit.ly/2PDlKlB

Line- Power Pro Braid 15 lb: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 8 lb: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9


6" Texas Rig Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'6" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Shimano Curado DC 150: http://bit.ly/2yHtsp4

Line- Sunline Fluorocarbon 20 lb: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm


7" Heavy Cover Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'7" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Shimano Curado DC 150: http://bit.ly/2yHtsp4

Line- Sunline Fluorocarbon 20 lb: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm


Budget All-Around Senko Combo... 

Rod- St. Croix Bass X 7'2" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2r0xWAs

Reel- Shimano SLX 70 MGL: https://bit.ly/3gIUCgJ

Line- Sunline Fluorocarbon 15 lb: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm


Want TacticalBassin Gear?  

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

The EASIEST Way To Catch MORE BASS!! Chatterbait, Spinnerbait, Crankbait Trick!

Matt catches a ton of fish while demonstrating how the early morning hours can be incredible with a spinnerbait, lipless crankbait, and chatterbait. He teaches as he goes so you can learn to use these baits as a system to maximize your time while bass are moved up for the shad spawn, and he does it all before breakfast! Come along for the chaos and see how easy it really is to catch fish after the spawn!

In the early morning hours the bass are patrolling shallow water in schools, searching for a meal. Any of these lures can catch those fish but there is a trick! By hitting the fish in quick succession and switching quickly between pre-rigged baits, you can keep a school of aggressive fish fired up for long periods of time. The key is continued action... if you let up, the fish will quit. 

This method works for small fish, big fish, and huge numbers of fish. If you're not getting out early and targeting schooling bass, you're missing some of the most intense action of the year! Below you'll find links to the exact baits Matt was using. He's also included some of his other favorites, his favorite colors, and the gear he was using to fish the baits. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 


Spinnerbaits... 

Bait #1- Terminator P1 Pro Series 3/8 oz: https://bit.ly/36B34vN

Color: Silver Shiner

Trailer- Keitech 3.8" Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Color: Electric Shad


Bait#2- River2Sea Bling 3/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2diSwqq

Color: Abalone Shad

Trailer- Storm Largo Shad 4": https://bit.ly/3vxP0NB

Color: Albino


Lipless Crankbait... 

Bait- Jackall TN-70: http://bit.ly/2lqAwjh

Color: RT Scale Minnow

Hook Upgrade- Gamakatsu EWG Size 4: http://bit.ly/2dmxXK8


Chatterbait... 

Bait- Z Man Evergreen Jackhammer 3/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2popvj6

Color: Spot Remover

Trailer- Hog Farmer Spunk Shad 4.5": http://bit.ly/2UFkCD7

Color: Blue Gizzard


Other Great Shad Spawn Spinnerbaits... 

-Megabass SV-3 Spinnerbait: https://bit.ly/3lk1SD0

Colors: Hasu, Wakasagi

- Damiki TOT Spinnerbait: http://bit.ly/38cxmD6

Colors: Smelt Shad, Sharp Belly

-War Eagle Nickel Screamin Eagle: http://bit.ly/2w5zoor

Colors: Blue Shad, Silver Shiner


Lipless Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro Lipless 855C: http://bit.ly/2og0BmK

Reel- Shimano Curado 200K (HG): http://bit.ly/2tHewEh

Line- Sunline 15 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm


Shimano Spinnerbait Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Zodias 7'2" Medium Heavy: https://bit.ly/3aeQbYW

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL (HG): https://bit.ly/34HlAAk

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 40 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Sunline FC-100 Shock 16 lb: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB


St. Croix Spinnerbait Combo... 

Rod- St. Croix Bass X 7'3" Medium heavy: http://bit.ly/2r0xWAs

Reel- 13 Fishing 7:1 Concept C2: https://bit.ly/2NlzZhg

Line- Sufix 131 Braided Line 40 lb: https://bit.ly/314VoyF

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 15 lb: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9


Chatterbait Combo... 

Rod- G Loomis 883C Bladed Jig: http://bit.ly/2QurcHi

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL (HG): https://bit.ly/34HlAAk

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 40 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Sunline FC-100 Shock 16 lb: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB


Matt's Jet Boat Rigging... 

-Humminbird Helix 9: https://bit.ly/35OP5Sm

-Minn Kota Ultrex 80 lb 45" Shaft: http://bit.ly/2NPTY6c


Want TacticalBassin Gear?  

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

G Loomis NRX+ Rod Review! Baitcasting And Spinning!

G Loomis NRX+ is finally here! These long awaited rods have finally arrived and we've had the opportunity to fish with them! Are they worth the price? What changed? Do they still have that NRX "feel"? That's what today's review is all about! Spoiler Alert: You're going to love them!!

The now discontinued NRX line set the standard for sensitivity and weight reduction in bass fishing rods. The NRX+ takes it to a whole new level! With features like Spiral X technology, custom CI4+ reel seats, combined Fuji Titanium SIC guides and recoil guides, all in a package that is hand built in the United States, how could you go wrong? We've been putting them to the test against bass on Chickamauga and they're incredible!

With 28 different models to choose from across 6 different lines, the NRX+ is as complete as a rod line can be. So complete in fact, its hard to know where to start. Below you'll find links to all 6 varieties (4 casting series and 2 spinning series). In addition to the links we've included our favorite "do everything" models and favorite "technique-specific" models to help you narrow down your selection. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 


NRX+ Casting Rod Lines...

-Jig and Worm Rods (JWR): https://bit.ly/3vVfbhs

-Mag Bass Rods (MBR): https://bit.ly/2SuZG15

-Bladed Jig Rod (BJR): https://bit.ly/3y0lbXZ

-Carolina Rig Rod (CRR): https://bit.ly/2SFznpb


Favorite "All-Around" Casting Models... 

Tim- 853C JWR (7'1" Medium Heavy)

Matt- 844C MBR (7'0" Heavy)


Favorite Technique-Specific Casting Models... 

Tim- 894C JWR - Jig and Texas Rig Worms

Matt- 852C JWR - Shaky Heads

Matt- 883C BJR - Chatterbaits


NRX+ Spinning Rod Lines... 

-Jig and Worm Spinning Rods (JWR): https://bit.ly/3y0Ss5m

-Spin Jig Spinning Rods (SJR): https://bit.ly/2RB0oJP


Favorite "All-Around" Spinning Models... 

Both- 852S JWR (7'1" Medium)


Favorite Technique-Specific Spinning Models... 

Tim- 901S SJR - Hair Jigs

Matt- 821S NNR - Ned Rigs


Ultimate Spinning Combo... 

Rod- NRX+ 852S JWR (7'1" Medium): https://bit.ly/3y0Ss5m

Reel- Shimano Stella FJ 3000: http://bit.ly/2U8Pkzg

Line- Sunline SX1 Braid - 12 lb: http://bit.ly/2tn8EzQ

Leader- Sunline Fluorocarbon 7 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju


Ultimate Casting Combo... 

Rod- NRX+ 853C JWR (7'1" Medium Heavy): https://bit.ly/3vVfbhs

Reel- Shimano Metanium MGL 150B: https://bit.ly/34HlAAk

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 40 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Sunline FC100 Shock Leader 16 lb: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB


Is NRX+ mind-blowing to you but also completely out of your budget? If you want the best "bang for the buck" on the market today, look at the Shimano Expride line of rods. The Expride has Spiral X technology as well, and is incredibly sensitive for its price. Here are direct links to both the spinning and casting models... 


-Expride Casting Rods: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

-Expride Spinning Rods: http://bit.ly/2osaj3q


Some of our favorite casting models include the 6'10" Medium, 7'2" Medium Heavy, 7'2" Heavy, 7'7" Heavy, and the 7'11" Extra Heavy. Our favorite spinning models include the 6'10" Medium Light and the 7' Medium.


Want TacticalBassin Gear?  

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

Pond Fishing For Bass: 5 Tips To Catch More Fish!

Tim has spent more than 30 years fishing ponds for bass! He grew up in the country, fishing every pond he could find. Over the years he's developed a handful of confidence baits that he relies on to consistently catch fish. He also has a method of covering water to quickly determine if a pond is worth continuing to fish. 

The 3 factors Tim takes into consideration when approaching a new pond are... water clarity, types and quantity of vegetation (grass), and what kind of dam the pond has. With these 3 questions answered he can quickly assess what type of pond this is and exactly how fish should be positioning. As a general rule of thumb, you should start your search near the dam, along the edges of the deepest water. 

When approaching a new pond Tim uses a "top down" approach. He begins with topwater, then switches to reaction baits, then bottom contact, then finally to a weightless presentation. This stepped method allows him to quickly identify the overall mood of the pond, the quality and quantity of fish in the pond, and whether or not this is somewhere he should continue to fish in the future. 

Below you'll find links to the exact baits and presentations he recommends using for this method. We've included links to the exact baits, including colors, sizes, and best rigging components. We've also included some great budget rod and reel combos for pond fishing. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 


Topwater... 

-Whopper Plopper (75 or 90): http://bit.ly/2bsPbQV

Colors: Bluegill, Munky Butt, Loon

-Spro Bronzeye Poppin Frog 60: http://bit.ly/2hKsO0g

Colors: Sunfish, Killer Gill, Leopard

-Zoom Horny Toad: http://bit.ly/2aY5lBt

Colors: White, Bullfrog, Green Pumpkin Pearl


Swimbait... 

Bait- Keitech 4.3"-4.8" Fat Swing Impact: http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Colors: SunGill, Copperfield

Hook- Owner Flashy Swimmer 5/0: http://bit.ly/2e8O4Y7

Style: Gold Colorado Blade


Soft jerkbait...  

Bait- Zoom Super Fluke: http://bit.ly/2aqys0H

Colors: Green Pumpkin, Baby Bass

Hook- Gamakatsu EWG 4/0: http://bit.ly/2ac92XG


Creature Bait... 

Bait- Reaction Innovations Man Bear Pig: http://bit.ly/2s51oIV

Colors: Flora Bama, Magic Craw Red

Weight- Swagger Tungsten Vader 1/8 oz: http://bit.ly/2NjDYtV

Hook- Owner Offset Shank 2/0: http://bit.ly/2D9Pmj0


Senko... 

Bait- Yamamoto 5" Senko: http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Colors: Green Pumpkin, Electric Shad, Baby Bass

Hook- Owner Twist Lock 2/0: http://bit.ly/2ZlkuLl


Glide Bait... 

S-Waver 168 (Bluegill): http://bit.ly/2aiu8Sh


Budget-Friendly Combo (Frog/Flashy Swimmer/Glide)... 

Rod- Shimano SLX 7'2" Heavy: http://bit.ly/2L3wppO

Reel- Shimano SLX 150 XT: http://bit.ly/2BRTYL8

Line- Power Pro 50 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b


Budget-Friendly Combo (Soft Jerkbait/Creature/Senko)... 

Rod- St. Croix Bass X 7'1" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2r0xWAs

Reel- Shimano SLX 150 XT: http://bit.ly/2BRTYL8

Line- Sunline 15 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm


Budget Topwater Combo... 

Rod- Shimano SLX 7'2" Medium: http://bit.ly/2L3wppO

Reel- Shimano SLX 150 XT: http://bit.ly/2BRTYL8

Line- Power Pro 30 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b


Want TacticalBassin Gear?  

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz